Posted on Jun 6, 2015
How much of your life has the United States been at war?
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/05/18/heres-how-much-of-your-life-the-united-states-has-been-at-war/
We spend a lot of time at war, it seems. Should we be concerned about this, or just see it as job security?
We spend a lot of time at war, it seems. Should we be concerned about this, or just see it as job security?
Warfare
American History
Time
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA, since I was born in 1956, the US fought a hot war in Vietnam from 1964 to 1975, the Cold War was waged in Europe and to a lesser extent the USA from before my birth until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. We have been at war since 2001 in OEF, OIF.
There were smaller engagements in Somalia, Grenada [1983], Panama [1989], Desert Storm [19911] which combined to less than one year, and varying degrees of military advisers through direct action in the former Yugoslavia [1995 to 1999] [Kudos to MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca for reminding me about Desert Storm]
So there have probably been 7 out of my 58 1/2 years where this nation has not been engaged in warfare somewhere. Therefore approximately 88% of my life the USA has been engaged in warfare of one type or another.
There were smaller engagements in Somalia, Grenada [1983], Panama [1989], Desert Storm [19911] which combined to less than one year, and varying degrees of military advisers through direct action in the former Yugoslavia [1995 to 1999] [Kudos to MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca for reminding me about Desert Storm]
So there have probably been 7 out of my 58 1/2 years where this nation has not been engaged in warfare somewhere. Therefore approximately 88% of my life the USA has been engaged in warfare of one type or another.
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LTC Stephen F.
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca, I completely forgot about Desert Storm which is interesting because I was involved in the planning for it for a long time. Thanks for reminding me.
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Counting the Cold War, which I do, we have been at war for 46 years of my life. Counting 10 years of Vietnam
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Very thought provoking question!
Let's see
1967-1975 Vietnam
1983 Grenada, Beirut
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Storm
2001 to present GWOT
So that's 25-ish out of 48, give or take a battle or 2.
Add in the domestic wars on drugs, poverty and crime and that would make it 100%
Let's see
1967-1975 Vietnam
1983 Grenada, Beirut
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Storm
2001 to present GWOT
So that's 25-ish out of 48, give or take a battle or 2.
Add in the domestic wars on drugs, poverty and crime and that would make it 100%
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100%.
America has never not been at war. We've been in some form of conflict, whether hot or cold for the entirely of our existence.
From the Whiskey Rebellion to the Indian Wars to the Mexican American War to the Civil War to Spanish American War to WWI to WWII to Korea (Cold War beginnings) through Vietnam, through the end of the Cold War (late 80's/early 90's) to Gulf 1, to OIF/OEF, when haven't we been at "war?"
America has never not been at war. We've been in some form of conflict, whether hot or cold for the entirely of our existence.
From the Whiskey Rebellion to the Indian Wars to the Mexican American War to the Civil War to Spanish American War to WWI to WWII to Korea (Cold War beginnings) through Vietnam, through the end of the Cold War (late 80's/early 90's) to Gulf 1, to OIF/OEF, when haven't we been at "war?"
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I took this from MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca with one edit.
1969-1975 Vietnam
1983 Grenada, Beirut
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Storm
2001 to present GWOT
1969-1975 Vietnam
1983 Grenada, Beirut
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Storm
2001 to present GWOT
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA , Read LTC Stephen F.'s post. We're the same age, so his stats apply for me, except he can't count - I'm at 60yrs, and he is 59 1/2!! (Got to keep these officers on track)
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LTC Stephen F.
I posted my response 11 months ago when I was knew to RallyPoint SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT and SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA. My post was focused on wars we can talk about on this net not the shadow wars. Without providing details I expect the USA has been actively engaged in warfare somewhere on this globe every day of my life .:-)
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SGM Mikel Dawson
LTC Stephen F. - But that don't count! I read it only today!! MY MISTAKE, I BOW MY HEAD IN SHAME!!!
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LTC Stephen F.
SGM Mikel Dawson - no problem my friend and brother-in-arms. Every now and then I find myself responding to a post from a year or so ago. I try to remember to check to see when the post was started. Sometimes I respond to something I responded to months ago. :-)
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SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT
LTC Stephen F. - SGM Mikel Dawson TSgt Hunter Logan CPT (Join to see) I agree that we have been involved in conflicts or military defense over the past 60 years. Let's never forget the Cold War guarding the Fulda Gap or the Korean DMZ.
Never forget the world is a dangerous place as we deal with radical Muslem terrorists.
Never forget the world is a dangerous place as we deal with radical Muslem terrorists.
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I was born in '71 so:
Cold War '71-'89
Vietnam '71-'75
Grenada & Beirut '83
Panama '89
Desert Storm '90 (served in USN during that one)
Somalia '93
The Balkans '94-'04, but especially hot until 1996
OIF/OEF/OIR '01- (joined the Army in '02)
So counting the Cold War, 37 of my 44 years, and have served during or in three major regional conflicts...well, okay, four if you count OP Inherent Resolve as distinct from OIF/OEF.
You know, lately I've been thinking that my post-retirement career will have nothing to do with warfare or defense.
Cold War '71-'89
Vietnam '71-'75
Grenada & Beirut '83
Panama '89
Desert Storm '90 (served in USN during that one)
Somalia '93
The Balkans '94-'04, but especially hot until 1996
OIF/OEF/OIR '01- (joined the Army in '02)
So counting the Cold War, 37 of my 44 years, and have served during or in three major regional conflicts...well, okay, four if you count OP Inherent Resolve as distinct from OIF/OEF.
You know, lately I've been thinking that my post-retirement career will have nothing to do with warfare or defense.
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I was born in 1990, so the chart shows that we have been at war for 61.5% of my life. They left out smaller conflicts in their calculations.
Politically, I view our foreign policy habits negatively.
As a soldier, I see job security.
Politically, I view our foreign policy habits negatively.
As a soldier, I see job security.
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